FG To Partner USA-Based Methodist Hospitals On National Health Insurance Scheme

The Federal Government is considering a working partnership with Methodist Hospitals, Tennessee, USA, for proper implementation of National Health Insurance Scheme.

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo in a meeting on Monday with a Nigerian-born Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Hospitals, Tennessee, USA, Dr Michael Ugwueke, said the Federal Government will look into the National Health Insurance Scheme to complement budgetary allocations to the health sector.

The VP said “right now, practically all of the funding for the health care system is from the budget, and for a country of 200 million people, it will be extremely difficult to expect that we will resource our health care system purely from the budget.

“The National Health Insurance will be one way of giving us a more substantial pool of resources which we can use not only to improve infrastructure but also improve earnings for personnel.”

Earlier in his remarks, Dr Ugwueke said he was in the country partly to explore areas of partnership between the Federal Government and the Methodist Hospital especially in complementing efforts of the Buhari administration in transforming the health care system.

He commended the Buhari administration’s efforts in tackling COVID-19, describing government’s intervention in containing the pandemic as incredibly successful.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who was also in attendance said the Federal Government will welcome offers of collaboration from the US-based, Nigerian-born medical expert and hospital administrator.